A wrong Red Bull rear wing left Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez struggling with significant performance issues that marked a challenging start to the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
Red Bull Racing arrived at the iconic Las Vegas Strip circuit without the appropriate low-downforce rear wing, a critical oversight that has left them struggling for speed on the straights, losing approximately six-tenths of a second compared to its rivals.
The Red Bull rear wing blunder has raised concerns about their ability to maintain their positions in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships as they head into the final races of the season.
As the practice sessions unfolded, both drivers found themselves languishing at the bottom of the timesheets, with Verstappen finishing in 17th place and Perez in 19th during the second practice session.
The Las Vegas circuit, known for its long straights and high-speed corners, requires a low-drag aerodynamic setup to maximize performance. However, Red Bull arrived with a rear wing that generated excessive drag, hampering their straight-line speed significantly.
Reports indicate that the RB20 was approximately 7 km/h slower than its rivals on the straights, a deficit that could prove detrimental in a race where every tenth of a second counts.
Red Bull’s senior advisor Helmut Marko noted that they had mistakenly packed a wing that was not suited for the high-speed nature of the circuit and confirmed they did not have an alternative Red Bull rear wing available for use at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
“We don’t have another rear wing, a smaller rear wing, as we see it on our competitors,” Marko told Autosport. “It would be more helpful, for sure.”
In response to their struggles, Red Bull attempted to make adjustments between practice sessions by trimming their existing rear wing in hopes of reducing drag.
However, this modification proved insufficient against teams like Ferrari and McLaren, who had brought more suitable low-downforce configurations optimized for the Las Vegas layout.
The lack of preparation has left the team scrambling to find solutions as they attempt to salvage their race weekend which leaves Max Verstappen’s hopes of clinching his fourth consecutive World Championship more precarious than ever.
With a 62-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris, the reigning world champion needs to finish ahead of Norris at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix to maintain his advantage.
However, with the current Red Bull rear wing bringing a performance deficit, achieving this goal will require extraordinary effort from both drivers and the team and Marko is optimistic about RB20’s potential.
“On the short run we didn’t go out with a soft tyre, and the long run was only partly good,” he said. “Some laps were competitive, but then the rear tyres were disappearing.
“There were flashes of speed. We just have to get consistency into it. We just need more balance.
“On the single lap we can improve. But on the long run, the tyre wear is a problem at the moment.”
The conditions during practice also played a role in Red Bull’s struggles. The Las Vegas track was described as slippery and challenging, with cold and dusty surfaces making it difficult for drivers to find grip.
Verstappen commented on these conditions, stating that it felt like “driving on ice” and highlighted issues with tyre temperatures that further complicated their performance. Despite these challenges, he remained optimistic about making improvements ahead of qualifying and the race.
“Yeah, it was slippery,” he said. “I think we struggled a lot with making the tyres work, over one lap especially.
“The long run I think started off a bit more competitive, but even there I think we need to fine-tune a few things. The one-lap pace is quite far off.
“Of course, it’s quite unique conditions around here and it’s very cold, but at the end of the day it’s the same for everyone, so we need to try and understand what we’re doing wrong at the moment.”
The decision not to develop a dedicated low-drag Red Bull rear wing for this race has raised questions about Red Bull’s strategic choices throughout the season.
As they look toward qualifying on Saturday night, Red Bull is under pressure not only from their rivals but also from within their own ranks. The team’s performance at this critical juncture could have lasting implications for both championships.
With only three races remaining after the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, every point is crucial. The team currently sits P3 in the constructor standings, 13 points behind Ferrari and 49 back from leaders McLaren.
